Garter



' (No Model.) i

P. ARMSTRONG.

GARTER.

Patented July 5, 1887.

\ \/rl' ESSES.

N, PETERS. PhclmLilhugr rbher. Wushingwn. D. C.

' UNITED STATES PATE T Orrica FRANK ARMSTRONG, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

GQARTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,770, dated July 5, 1887.

Application filed A1 ril 16, 1886.

Serial No. 199,070. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, FRANK ARMSTRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridge-- port, Connecticut, have invented new and useful Improvements in Garters, of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to certain ilinprovements in thatolass of garters known as mens garters, in which a band is employed to encompass the leg above the calf, and provided with intermediate means for connecting said band with the upper edge of the stocking. Quite a number of different devices have been suggested and many have gone largely into use, the most successful of which consist of an elastic band to surround the leg above the calf, (and below the knee) the ends of said band being connected with a non-elastic cord, the lower end of which is provided with apermanently-attached clasp designed to grasp the upper edge of the stocking. Garters of this class have also been made in which the band is non-elastic,with a connecting-strap between said band and the metallic clasp, composed of elastic material; butin both of these styles, as well as all others with which I am familiar, there exist many objections and disadvantages. For instance, where the band which surrounds the leg is made of woven fabric, either elastic or non-elastic, it is exceedingly uncomfortable to the wearer in warm weather, owing to the lack of ventilation, and where rubber is employed in its composition to pro duce the necessary elasticity the action of perspiration exuding from the body tends to destroy the elasticity of the band and also to produce an unpleasant odor; and in all cases the strain upon the garter under the physical and muscular movements of the leg tends to easily displace the garter and to produce discomfort.

My inventionhas for its objects to overcome all the disadvantages existing in garters as at present made, and to produce one which shall be agreeable to the wearer, and which is readily ventilated and impervious to moisture; and with these ends in view my invention consists of a band composed of one or more wire coils properly secured at their ends to metallic fastening devices for securing itto theleg of the wearer, and provided with a sliding metallic clasp adapted to be secured to the top edge of the stocking, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In order that those skilled may understand the construction and advantages of my improved garter, I will proceed to describe same, referring byletters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side View of my improved garter in position upon a leg and supporting a stocking. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the leg-band composed of a single coil. Fig. 3 is a detail edge view ofthe clasp in position to hold the stocking, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the garter removed from the leg.

Similar letters indicate like parts in the several figures.

A represents the Iegband, which is conr posed of one or more wire coils properly connected at their ends to fastening devices B O,

and having arranged within said coils suitable stay-cords to limit the extension of the garter to avoid destruction of the spring ac tion.

D are metallic slides or braces which are employed when the band A is composed of more than one coil, and when more than one coil is used, as shown at Fig. l, (and which I prefer,) the slides D are so adjusted as to release a greater or less extent of the lower coil, in order that it may be distended and drawn downwardly to enable the stocking-clasp to be secured to the stocking.

E is a metallic stockingelasp, made preferably of a single piece and bent into the form most clearly shown at Fig. 3, with a slide, F, for holding the jaws of the clasp in contact with the stocking. The upper end of the clasp E is bent into substantially elliptical form, in order that it may conform to the coils A of the band, which are'slightly flattened to prevent any tendency to roll upon the leg. It will be observed that the clasp E may be put in position upon or removed from the coil A by removing the slide F, in an obvious manner. When the parts are in position and the clasp is drawn down to grasp the stocking,as shown in Fig. 1, it will be observedthat the lower coil is distended or stretched into a loop shape, and that a gentle drawing force is constantly exerted to keep the stocking in position, and that the upper coil has another and an independent action-namely, to securely clasp the leg and support the lower coil. As before stated, the slides D, when employed,' are forced outwardly from the clasp E to such point as will produce proper adjustment and release the lower coil to give it suflicient action. Where a single coil is used, as shown at Fig. 2, it will be observed that by reason of the fact that each and every coil of the wire acts substantiallyindependent of the adjacent ones the band is distended by the pull upon the clasp E only on such portion of the band from the points'l and 2, as seen at Fig. 2, so that there is less tendency to pulling the garter bodily down over the calf than is experienced.v

in that class of garters herei nbefore referred to. Having described the construction and advantages of my improved garter,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A garter composed of two contiguous parallel coils provided with suitable end clasps, B O, and adjustable slides D, in combination with a sliding stocking-clasp, E, arranged upon the lower coil, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK ARMSTRONG.

\Vitnesses:

I; L. I-IoLzER, F. T. STAPLES. 

